Czechia has legal tools to block Russian players from ice hockey championship, minister says

Czech Sports Minister Boris Šťastný (Motorists) says the country has sufficient legal tools to prevent Russian players from participating in January’s Under-18 Women’s Ice Hockey World Championship in Ostrava. He said the Interior Ministry could intervene even if Russian players entered through another Schengen country. Czech players have already indicated they would boycott matches against Russia. Šťastný also distanced himself from controversial remarks by Foreign Minister Petr Macinka (Motorists), who described women’s hockey as a men’s sport and referred to Russian players as “mannish women”. However, he declined to call for an apology, saying ministers were responsible for their own statements.